CF Dictionary · Knowledge & Epistemology
Rationality
The skill of finding and correcting mistakes. CF treats rationality as a learnable craft, not a fixed faculty.
Also: reason
In CF, rationality is the skill of finding and correcting mistakes — applied error-correction to your own thinking. It's a craft to be developed, not a fixed faculty.
Rationality vs. intelligence
CF follows CR in distinguishing rationality from raw intelligence:
- Intelligence is the speed of pattern-matching.
- Rationality is the discipline of criticising your own conclusions.
You can be brilliant and irrational, or modest and rational.
Components of rationality
CF identifies several:
- Fallibilism — accepting mistakes are common
- Offer and accept criticism — even when unpleasant
- Paths Forward — practical protocol
- Overreach — managing error rate
- automatized knowledge — built by practice
- Idea trees — for clarity
What rationality is not
- Not cynical. Rationalists are more open to ideas, not less.
- Not certain. Rationalists know they're fallible.
- Not cold. Emotions can be rationally examined.
"Reason is about being good at finding and correcting mistakes." — criticalfallibilism.com